{"id":18953,"date":"2023-09-15T18:20:52","date_gmt":"2023-09-15T22:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/?p=18953"},"modified":"2023-12-12T03:33:41","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T08:33:41","slug":"cassandro-gael-garcia-bernal-shines-as-the-liberace-of-lucha-libre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/?p=18953","title":{"rendered":"Cassandro, Gael Garc\u00eda Bernal Shines As The \u2018Liberace of Lucha Libre\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Amazon Studios biographical drama directed by Roger Ross Williams brings to the screen the story of Sa\u00fal Armend\u00e1riz, the Mexican luchador<\/i> who worked as an ex\u00f3tico<\/i> all over the world under the ring name Cassandro. Roger Ross Williams\u2019 narrative directorial debut is set in the Eighties, when Armend\u00e1riz lived in El Paso and would regularly cross the border to Ciudad Ju\u00e1rez to participate in wrestling matches.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cassandro<\/i><\/b> portrays the titular character with utmost sensitivity, also thanks to Gael Garc\u00eda Bernal\u2019s exceptional performance and the considerate script, written by Ross Williams and David Teague. The versatile actor \u2014 who has become known for his performances in films such as Bad Education<\/i><\/b>, The Motorcycle Diaries<\/i><\/b>, Amores perros<\/i><\/b>, Y tu mam\u00e1 tambi\u00e9n<\/i><\/b>, Babel <\/i><\/b>\u2014 displays physical grace and emotional torment as he plays not only a man but a feeling. The sensation he projects on screen is the inescapable power of judgement confronting the urge to embrace the true self.<\/p>\n

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Gael Garc\u00eda Bernal in Cassandro. Photo: Courtesy of Prime Video \u00a9 AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The film, that had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and is streaming on Prime Video, unveils the figure of a male wrestler who appropriates feminine aspects and moves on the ring as a dancer would: the ex\u00f3tico.<\/i> Cassandro<\/i><\/b> celebrates the way machismo is contested within the Latin culture of lucha libre<\/i>, through a young man who is seen as the Liberace of freestyle wrestling. The gentle boldness of this fighter, is further enhanced by the fact that while the other luchadores<\/i> wear masks, the ex\u00f3tico<\/i> keeps his face uncovered, except for lipstick, eyeshadow, mascara and glitter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We are shown the strength and frailty of a man whose pillar of life is represented first by his mother Yocasta (Perla De La Rosa) and later by his friend and trainer Sabrina\/Lady Anarch\u00eda (Roberta Colindrez). He finds strength in the women who surround him and inspire him, such as Mother Theresa, Sor Juana In\u00e9s de la Cruz, Marie Curie and Princess Diana. His interaction with men is more conflictual, because neither his father nor his lovers provide an actual demonstration of acceptance.<\/p>\n

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Being gay, and showing it off flamboyantly within such a masculine sport is seen as shameful by many. The only man who\u00a0 <\/span>sees the potential in Sa\u00fal is the \u201cmover and shaker\u201d Lorenzo (Joaqu\u00edn Cos\u00edo), who works as wrestling manager.<\/p>\n

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Gael Garc\u00eda Bernal and Perla De La Rosa in Cassandro. Photo_ Alejandro Lopez Pineda \u00a9 AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.<\/p>\n
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jpg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The contrast between the ultra-masculine fighters and the wrestler-in-drag is substantial, as we see the characters of Eduardo (Robert Salas), Diablo (Eduardo Cayetano), El Mysterioso (Leonardo Alonso), Murder Clown (Gig\u00e1ntico), Masked Massacre (Javier Escobar), as well as Felipe (Bad Bunny) and Gerardo\/El Comandante (Ra\u00fal Castillo). Amongst the wrestling characters, Cassandro<\/i><\/b> also features El Hijo del Santo \u2014 the famous Mexican luchador<\/i> enmascarado<\/i> \u2014 playing himself.<\/p>\n

Roger Ross Williams, whose Music by Prudence<\/i><\/b> won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film in 2009, also in Cassandro<\/i><\/b> uses the power of acoustics to heighten the storytelling. The music selection provides campy energy with songs such as Yo Vivr\u00e9 <\/i>performed by Celia Cruz, Blondie\u2019s Call Me<\/i> and Baccara\u2019s Yes Sir, I Can Boogie<\/i>, that enliven the pantomime fights.<\/p>\n

Cassandro<\/i><\/b>, besides being a delicate biopic, serves as a universal tale about overcoming adversity and strife as an outsider finds his voice and place in the sun.<\/p>\n

Final Grade: B<\/p>\n

Check out more of Chiara\u2019s articles<\/a>.<\/p>\n